TheLordofUtterbolWillWotofRalph’sMightandMinstrelsyAlittlebeforesunsettheymadehaltforthenight，andRalphwasshowntoatentaserst，andhadmeatanddrinkgoodenoughbroughttohim。
ButsomewhatafterhehaddoneeatingcomesDavidtohimandsays：
“Up，youngman！andcometomylord，heaskethforthee。”
“Whatwillhewantwithme？”saidRalph。
“Yea，thatisaproperquestiontoask！”quothDavid；“asthoughtheknifeshouldaskthecutler，whatwiltthoucutwithme？
DostthoudeemthatIdurstaskhimofhiswillwiththee？”
“Iamreadytogowiththee。”saidRalph。
Sotheywentforth；butRalph’sheartfellandhesickenedatthethoughtofseeingthatmanagain。Neverthelesshesethisfaceasbrass，andthrustbackbothhisfearandhishatredforafitteroccasion。
SoontheycameintothepavilionoftheLord，whowassittingthereasyestereve，savethathisgownwasred，anddoneaboutwithgoldandturquoiseandemerald。DavidbroughtRalphnightohisseat，butspakenot。Themightylordwassittingwithhisheaddrooping，andhisarmhangingoverhisknee，withaheavycountenanceasthoughhewerebroodingmatterswhichpleasedhimnaught。
Butinawhilehesatupwithastart，andturnedaboutandsawDavidstandingtherewithRalph，andspakeatoncelikeamanwakingup：
“Hethatsoldtheetomesaidthatthouwertofavailformanythings。
Nowtellme，whatcanstthoudo？”
Ralphsohatedhim，thathewasofhalfamindtoanswernaughtsavebysmitinghimtoslayhim；buttherewasnoweaponanigh，andlifewassweettohimwithallthetalethatwaslyingahead。
Soheansweredcoldly：“Itissooth，lord，thatIcandomorethanonedeed。”
“Canstthoubackahorse？”saidtheLord。SaidRalph：“Aswellasmany。”
SaidtheLord：“Canstthoubreakawildhorse，andshoehim，andphysichim？”
“Notworsethansome。”saidRalph。
“Can’stthouplaywithswordandspear？”saidtheLord。
“Betterthansomefew。”saidRalph。“HowshallIknowthat？”saidtheLord。
SaidRalph：“Tryme，lord！”Indeed，hehalfhopedthatifitcametothat，hemightescapeinthehurley。
TheLordlookedonhimandsaid：“Well，itmaybetried。
Buthereisacoldandproudanswerer，David。Imisdoubtmewhetheritbeworthwhilebringinghimhome。”
DavidlookedtimidlyonRalphandsaid：“Thouhastpaidthepriceforhim，lord。”
“Yea，thatistrue。”saidtheLord。“Thou！can’stthouplayatthechess？”
“Yea。”saidRalph。“Can’stthoumusic？”saidtheother。“Yea。”saidRalph，“whenIammerry，orwhilesindeedwhenIamsad。”
Thelordsaid：“Makethyselfmerryorsad，whichthouwilt；
butsing，orthoushaltbebeaten。Ho！Bringyetheharp。”
Thentheybroughtitashebade。
ButRalphlookedtorightandleftandsawnodeliverance，andknewthisforthefirsthourofhisthralldom。
Yet，ashethoughtofitall，herememberedthatifhewoulddo，hemustneedsbearandforbear；andhisfacecleared，andhelookedroundaboutagainandlethiseyesrestcalmlyonalleyesthathemettilltheycameontheLord’sfaceagain。
Thenhelethishandfallintothestringsandtheyfella-tinklingsweetly，likeuntothesongofthewinterrobin，andatlastheliftedhisvoiceandsang：
Stillnowisthestithythismorningunclouded，Noughtstirsinthethorpsavetheyellow-hairedmaidA-peelingthewithylastCandlemasshroudedFromthemerewherethemoorhennowswimsunafraid。
ForovertheFordnowthegrassandthecloverFlyofffromthetinesasthewinddrivethon；AndsoonroundtheSword-howetheswatheshalllieover，Andto-morrowateventhemeadshallbewon。
ButtheHalloftheGardenamidstthehotmorning，Itdrewmyfeetthither；
Istoodatthedoor，Andfeltmyheartharden’gainstwisdomandwarningAsthesunandmyfootstepscameontothefloor。
Whenthesunlaybehindme，therescarceinthedimnessIsaywhatI
soughtfor，yettrembledtofind；Butitcameforthtofindme，untilthesleekslimnessOfthesummer-cladwomanmadesummero’erkind。
Therewetheonce-sunderedtogetherwereblended，Westrangers，unknownonce，werehiddenbynaught。IkissedandIwonderedhowdoubtwasallended，Howfriendlyherexcellentfairnesswaswrought。
RoundthehalloftheGardenthehotsunisburning，Butnomasternorminstrelgoesthereintheshade，Ithathneverawardentillcomesthereturning，Whenthemoonshallhanghighandallwindsshallbelaid。
WanedthedayandIhiedmeafield，andthereafterIsatwiththemightywhendaylightwasdone，Butwithgreatmenbesideme，midsthigh-heartedlaughter，Ideemedmeofallmenthegainfullestone。
TowisdomIhearkened；fortherethewisefatherCasttheseedofhislearningabroado’erthehall，Tillmen’sfacesdarkened，butminegladdenedratherWiththethoughtoftheknowledgeIknewoverall。
Sangminstrelsthestory，andwiththesong’swellingMenlookedoneachotherandgladweretheygrown，ButminewasthegloryofthetaleanditstellingHowthelovedandtheloverwerenaughtbutmineown。
Whenhewasdoneallkeptsilencetilltheyshouldknowwhetherthelordshouldpraisethesongorblame；andhesaidnaughtforagoodwhile，butsatasifpondering：butatlasthespake：
“Thouartyoung，andwouldthatwewereyoungalso！
Thysongissweet，anditpleasethme，whoamamanofwar，andhaveseenenoughandtospareofroughwork，andwouldanydayratherseeafairwomanthanabandofspears。
Butitshallpleasemyladywifeless：foroflove，andfairwomen，andtheirloversshehathseenenough；butofwarnothingsaveitsshowsandpomps；whereforeshedesirethtohearthereof。
Nowsingofbattle！”
Ralphthoughtawhileandbegantosmitetheharpwhileheconnedoverasongwhichhehadlearnedoneyule-tidefromachieftainwhohadcometoUpmeadsfromthefar-awayNorthland，andhadabidedtheretillspringwaswaningintosummer，andmeanwhilehetaughtRalphthissongandmanythingselse，andhisnamewasSirKarrWood-neb。ThissongnowRalphsangloudandsweet，thoughhewerenowathrallinanalienland：
Leavewethecup！Forthemoonisup，AndbrightisthegleamOftheripplingstream，ThatrunnethhisroadTotheoldabode，WherethewallsarewhiteInthemoonandthenight；
ThehouseoftheneighbourthatdraveusawayWhenstrifeendedlabouramidstofthehay，AndnoroadforourridingwasleftusbutoneWherethehill’sbrowishidingthatearth’swaysaredone，AndthesoundofthebillowscomesupatthelastLikethewindinthewillowsereautumnispast。
ButoftandagainComestheshipfromthemain，AndwecameoncemoreAndnoladingweboreButthepointandtheedge，Andtheironedledge，Andtheboltandthebow，Andthebaneofthefoe。TotheHouse’neaththemountainwecameinthemorn，Wherewelleththefountainupoverthecorn，Andthestreamisa-runningfastontotheHouseOftheneighboursuncunningwhoquakeatthemouse，Astheirslumberisbroken；
theyknownotforwhy；Sinceyestreenwasnottokenonearthorinsky。
Come，up，thenup！Leaveboardandcup，AndfollowthegleamOftheglitteringstreamThatleadeththeroadTotheoldabode，High-walledandwhiteInthemoonandthenight；WherelowliestheneighbourthatdraveusawaySleep-sunkfromhislabouramidstofthehay。Noroadforourridingisleftussaveone，Wherethehills’browishidingthecityundone，Andthewindinthewillowsiswithusatlast，Andthehouseofthebillowsisdoneando’er-past。
Haste！mountandhasteEretheshortnightwaste，Fornightandday，Lateturnedaway，DrawnighagainAllkissing-fain；
AndthemornandthemoonShallbemarriedfullsoon。
Soridewetogetherwithwealth-winningwand，Thesteelo’ertheleather，theashinthehand。Lo！whitewallsbeforeus，andhigharetheybuilt；Buttheluckthatoutworeusnowliesontheirguilt；Lo！theopengatebidingthefirstofthesun，Andtopeaceareweridingwhenslaughterisdone。
WhenRalphhaddonesinging，allfolkfelltopraisinghissong，whereastheLordhadpraisedtheotherone；buttheLordsaid，lookingatRalphaskancemeanwhile：“Yea，ifthatpleasethmenot，andItakebutlittlekeepofit，itshallpleasemywifetoherheart’sroot；andthatisthefirstthing。
Hastthouothersgoodstore，new-comer？”“Yea，lord。”
saidRalph。“Andcanstthoutelltalesofyoreagone，andofthefaysandsuch-like？Allthatshemusthave。”
“SomedealIcanofthatlore。”saidRalph。
ThentheLordsatsilent，andseemedtobepondering：
atlasthesaid，asiftohimself：“Yetthereisonething：
manyablenchercansingofbattle；andithathbeenseen，thatafairbodyofamaniswhilessoftamidstthehardhand-play。Thou！
Morfinn’sluck！artthouofanyuseinthetilt-yard？”
“Wiltthoutryme，lord？”saidRalph，lookingsomewhatbrisker。
SaidtheLord：“IdeemthatImayfindamanortwoforthee，thoughitisnotmuchourmannerhere；butnowgothou！
David，taketheladawaytohistent，andgethimaflaskofwineofthebesttohelpoutthymaunderingwithhim。”
Therewiththeyleftthetent，andRalphwalkedbyDavidsadlyandwithhangingheadatfirst；butinawhilehecalledtomindthat，whateverbetid，hislifewassafeasyet；
thateverydayhewasdrawingnighertotheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
andthatitwasmostlikethatheshallfallinwiththatDorotheaofhisdreamsomewhereonthewaythereto。
Sohelifteduphisheadagain，andwassingingtohimselfashestoopeddowntoenterintohistent。
Nextdaynaughthappedtotellofsavethattheyjourneyedon；
thedaywascloudy，sothatRalphsawnosignofthedistantmountains；
everthelandwasthesame，butbelikesomewhatmorebesetwithpinewoods；
theysawnofolkatallontheroad。SoatevenRalphsleptinhistent，andnonemeddledwithhim，savethatDavidcametotalkwithhimorheslept，andwasmerryandblithewithhim，andhebroughtwithhimOtter，thecaptainoftheguard，whowasgoodcompany。
Thusworethreedaysthatwerehazyandcloudy，andtheLordsentnomoreforRalph，whoontheroadspakeforthemorepartwithOtter，andlikedhimnotill；howbeititseemedofhimthathewouldmakenomoreofaman’slifethanofarabbit’saccordingashislordmightbidslayorletlive。
Thethreehazydayspast，itfelltorainforfourdays，sothatRalphcouldseelittleofthefaceoftheland；
buthenotedthattheywentupatwhiles，andneversomuchdownasup，sothattheywerewendinguphillonthewhole。
Ontheninthdayofhiscaptivitytherainceasedanditwassunnyandwarmbutsomewhathazy，sothatnaughtcouldbeseenafar，butthelandnear-handroseinlong，lowdownsnow，andwasquitetreeless，savewherewasahollowhereandthereandastreamrunningthroughit，wheregrewafewwillows，butaldersmoreabundantly。
ThisdayherodebyOtter，whosaidpresently：
“Well，younglingoftheNorth，to-morrowweshallseeanewgame，thouandI，iftheweatherbefair。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatlikeshallitbe？”SaidOtter，“Atmid-mornweshallcomeintoafairdaleamidstthedowns，wherebesomehousesandatoweroftheLord’s，sothatthatplaceiscalledtheDaleoftheTower：thereshallweabideawhiletogathervictual，adayortwo，orthreemaybe：
somyLordwillholdatourneythere：thatistosaythatI
myselfandsomefewothersshalltrythymanhoodsomewhat。”
“What？”saidRalph，“arethenewcolt’spacestobeproven？
Andhowifhefail？”
QuothOtter，laughing：“Failnot，Iredethee，ormylord’slovefortheeshallbesomethinglessthannothing。”
“Andthenwillheslayme？”saidRalph。SaidOtter：
“NayIdeemnot，atleastnotatfirst：hewillhavetheehometoUtterbol，tomakethemostofhisbadbargain，andthereshaltthoubeamereserving-thrall，eitherinthehouseorthefield：
wherethoushaltbewell-fed(saveintimesofscarcity)，andbelikewellbeatenwithal。”SaidRalph，somewhatdowncast：
“Yea，Iamathrall，whowasonceaknight。Buthowifthoufailbeforeme？”Otterlaughedagain：“Thatisanothermatter；
whateverIdomyLordwillnotlosemeifhecanhelpit；
butasfortheotherswhoshallstandbeforethyvaliancy，therewillbesomewhowillcursethedaywhereonmylordboughtthee，ifthouturnestoutagoodspear，asyecallitinyourlands。
Howsoever，thatisnotthybusiness；andIbidtheefearnaught；
forthouseemesttobeamettlelad。”
Sotheytalked，andthatdayworeliketheothers，butthehazedidnotclearoff，andthesunwentdownred。
